Heart, Joan Jett, and Cheap Trick Play First Niagara; Texture Ballet Presents ‘Interfusion’ (Thurs., 7/21/16)

1) The concert promoters have creatively packaged together three Rock and Roll Hall of Fame bands for the tour they’ve coined the Rock Hall Three For All. Headlining are Ann and Nancy Wilson, the two Seattle sisters who form the basis of the band Heart. They achieved mega-success in the 1970s and ’80s with songs “Magic Man,” “Barracuda,” and “All I Wanna Do Is Make Love to You.” Also on the bill is Joan Jett, who was supposed to open for The Who here late last year until Roger Daltrey’s illness forced a rescheduling, and the new date conflicted with her own tour schedule. We’re glad to see her in the ‘Burg (Burgettstown). Jett and her band the Blackhearts are best known for their 1982 no. 1 hit “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll.” Last but certainly not least is quintessential ’70s rock band Cheap Trick. They sang “Mommy’s alright, Daddy’s alright, they just seem a little weird, surrender…” for their big hit “Surrender.” Other highly successful songs are  “I want You to Want Me,” and “The Flame.” Cheap Trick formed in Rockford, Illinois in 1973. Robin Zander, Rick Nielsen, and crew released their first new album in seven years earlier this year, Bang, Zoom, Crazy… Hello. Catch three great classic rock bands together at First Niagara Pavilion. 6:30 p.m. 665 Rt. 18, Burgettstown.

Texture Contemporary Ballet demonstrates the art of leverage—and the company’s “Interfusion” show leverages us through the middle of a month filled with high drama, Broadway musicals, et cetera.

2) Texture Contemporary Ballet, a resident dance company, presents original works that are grounded in classical ballet but often look and sound like a far cry from Swan Lake. Texture’s latest offering is Interfusion, a four-piece show covering a wide span of artistic territory. The first two dances, the company’s “Symphony of Shadows” and an untitled new piece, are accompanied by live music from the blazing rock-cello ensemble Cello Fury. Next comes a piece created by hip hop choreographer Gabriel Ash of K.G. Dynasty. The finale is a tango-inspired ballet—Regresso Al Realidad—choreographed by Texture artistic director Alan Obuzor. After exposure to a mixture of rock cello, hip hop, and tango, be careful when dancing your way out of the theater. Continues through July 24. At the New Hazlett, 6 Allegheny Square East, North Side. (MV)

3) Doing clean, non-divisive material isn’t easy for stand-up comics. It’s challenging to be funny while steering clear of clichés, and the ooh-and-ah-eliciting shock value of sexual or political references is often too tempting a tool to give up. But Jim Gaffigan, who comes to Consol Energy Center tonight, has made his more wholesome approach work for more than 20 years. The pudgy, always-bearded comedian has found plenty of material in guilty-pleasure food (cake, bacon, and Hot Pockets get frequent mentions), and he’s got loads of stories from two large Catholic families, the one that begot him and the one he begot. (The dude has five kids!) When his five-year-old son wrote “Daddy is fat” as part of a writing assignment, Gaffigan was able to turn it into a book and long-form stand-up routine. He is currently portraying a dad in Chrysler Pacifica commercials who humorously examines the condition of American fatherhood. 8 p.m. 1001 Fifth Ave., Uptown. (EC)

4) Our battlin’ Buccos play the second game in their three game series against the Milwaukee Brewers. Tonight there is a fan favorite—Zambelli Fireworks Night. 7:05 p.m. p.m. PNC Park, 115 Federal St., North Shore.

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